Assistive devices for paralyzed students?

March 26, 2008 9:41 AM

Anyone have any experience with assistive devices in education?

I handle a portion of the general inquiries that come into our website (the online component of a computer science journal). Quite often the questions are sort of nonsensical or unrelated to our publication. Sometimes I try to find an alternate source for the asker to direct their inquiry; sometimes I don't because some of those people can be unbelievably obnoxious!

Recently, I received this question and I would like to help because who doesn't want to help a teacher trying to help a paralyzed student, but I truly have no idea how or where to direct her other than doing general Google searches. I'm hoping someone here has a specific suggestion, experience or can point to an authoritative source for this information:

I am trying to help one of my Home Instruction Students who is completely paralyzed and only use of his eyes. Is there some electronic device that I can put a name to in order to try to get funding. I am a NYC Department of Ed. teacher.

posted by marylynn to education (4 comments total)

Start with the Center for Accessible Technology.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:45 AM on March 26

You might also put your reader in touch with Rob Rummel-Hudson, who just had a book published about his family's experience with discovering assistive technology, obtaining a device for his daughter Schuyler, and dealing with various school systems in the funding and support of the use of the device.

Disclaimer: I know Rob personally. Regardless, as an experienced consumer and kid advocate, I can't see a way that he wouldn't be a fine objective resource for anyone trying to navigate the fairly niche world of assistive technology.
posted by pineapple at 9:58 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]

The Alliance for Technology Access might be helpful. There's an organization called TRIAD that's based in New York that also might give her some information. Also, once she has a device in mind the New York Assistive Technology Project might help her get funding.

I'm not sure how things work in New York, but in the states I've had experience in (Wisconsin and Illinois) the child's home district is responsible for special education services even if the kid is enrolled in private school, homeschooling, or is homebound. This kid will need help in learning to use any device, so she might want to contact the occupational therapist and speech therapist at the kid's school district (the one he would be going to if he wasn't at home) and see if they can help out.
posted by christinetheslp at 11:23 AM on March 26

My husband suggests that she start with the website for a program called Dasher - a text editing system for people with extreme disabilities. It may have more information for input devices.
posted by jb at 2:22 PM on March 26